Almost pull the plug on GH4, now come the LX-8, 4K!!

[kc_moses 142]

It's still a rumor and we will find out on July 13, the Panasonic LX-8 could have 4K video! I'm a big fan of the LX-7 and let's hope the LX-8 has built in ND filter. I can imagine saving quite a bit of money for lens and can do macro and WA in the same dive. The GH4 would set me back about $5K for the complete set up with 12-50mm lens and port. The LX-8 could be a $2K set up. So exciting!

 

The question is, does a 1" sensor and a M43 sensor makes big difference?

[peterbkk 110]

With Panasonic rocking the camera manufacturing boat, it's unwise to make statements about what the LX-8 can or can not do but it seems unlikely that the LX-8 will be able to output 4K 10bit 422 video like the GH4.

 

It's not so much the sensor but the 4K 10bit 422 capability that's got videographers excited about the GH4. Today, you have to pay a lot more money to get that depth of colour in another camera...

 

Oh, and the variety of great glass available in the M4/3 world.

 

Let's see.

[kc_moses 142]

Yeah, the variety of the glass (especially the cost of the port) is where they drain your wallet . I'm not sure if I'm ready for cinematography kind of quality (10 bit 422) yet due to budget constrain and most of my stuffs is for online viewing only. For people who consider getting into 4K workflow and balance the check book, it's worth to keep an eye around. In my case, I still have some Canon glasses and still waiting for the day when Canon camera can do 4K!

 

For now, I think I would take 4K footage and down process to 1080p to get better color/detail or cropping. We shall see.

 

Panasonic seems to be on the roll this year!

http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-first-image-of-the-superzoom-and-1-inch-sensor-panasonic-fz1000/

[Pete L 48]

The GH4 offers much more than just colour depth.

It has variable frame rates in 1080 mode, intervolometer, the ability to add on the yagh audio solution plus many other features including up to 200mbps recording.

[edmond320 26]

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ1000

another 4K camera in Panasonic

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/news/unveiled-panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz1000-digital-camera

[kc_moses 142]

Pete L, yes there are many features in the GH4 that makes me miss the dSLR (sold my Canon 7D), mainly the the remote control and the intervolometer. So I'm still on the fence. To be honest, I don't know how to use or know the advantage of the variable frame rate.

 

Edmond320, the FZ1000 seems nice but EOSHD.com pointed out that there is a few quirk thing with that camera, plus there won't be any housing for it anyway since it's a long zoom camera. The biggest take away from the FZ1000 is the 5-axis image stabilization. If The Panasonic LX-8 has that feature then it's a very attractive feature for video shooter.

[Interceptor121 842]

Hey moses. Just jotted down some of my thoughts here

 

Why not to move to Micro 4:3 for Video | Interceptor121 Underwater Photo & Video Blog

https://interceptor121.wordpress.com/2014/06/14/why-not-to-move-to-micro-43-for-video/

[kc_moses 142]

"Wet Lenses

You can add M67 lenses to the Panasonic 14-42 and the 35 macro port (am talking about Nauticam ports here) the results will be worse than the RX100 as the starting point is worst. "

What do you mean by "starting point is worst", field of view or optic quality?

The DXOMark optic quality comparison seems to have very minor difference, and probably can only be seen when pixel peeping. That lead me to ask myself, would the 4:2:2, higher dynamic range and bigger sensor on the GH4 worth it over a 1" sensor 4K P&S. Until we find out what's the color depth and IS of the LX8, it seems the GH4 still have advantage especially later on when taking photo (not just video). July 13 is a long way to wait!

[Interceptor121 842]

Optical quality. I have seen pictures (still) with the GX7 underwater and they look worse than mine on the RX100 with the same wet lens.

I am not that bothered about 4K and 4:2:2 you can connect a Ninja2 to the RX100 Mark III but I would not do that as that would take things to a professional level I am not interested in.

 

The Sony RX100 Mark III looks spectacular for video (except the short zoom) and I will see when the new Panasonic is released what to get next. What I liked about the LX7 was the depth of field for macro I could shoot with +17 on a tripod and would still focus fine I can't do that on the RX100 where I stop at +12.

 

For sure I will keep the RX100 Mark II for still pictures underwater as it is really excellent. And no intention on housing the D7100 for now.

[kc_moses 142]

The Panasonic FZ1000 is using Sony's sensor. If they do the same for the LX8, you could replace your RX100M2 easily for photo needs.

[Interceptor121 842]

The Panasonic FZ1000 is using Sony's sensor. If they do the same for the LX8, you could replace your RX100M2 easily for photo needs.

Not is the lens is 24-90mm. On the LX7 you can't put a semifisheye as it vignettes because of the lens large aperture.

If the new Panasonic has all the features of the Sony and a 50 mbps 25p mode with the 90mm max zoom am definitely interested for video

I have another older compact I need to get rid of so no issues with having two cameras

I have checked the Mark III 50 Mbps files and they are spectacular after you re-wrap you can also edit them in iMovie. I hope panasonic offers a normal mp4 mode at high bitrate and single frame rate as that is ideal for wide angle

[Interceptor121 842]

Just checked and the Panasonic FZ1000 has a 4K 100 Mbps mode and then it drops to AVCHD progressive and 24 Mbps 24/25p

Also in 4K you can't have the image stabiliser

Looks like the 50 Mbps of the RX100 Mark III could be a bit more useful

Anyway we will need to see

[kc_moses 142]

More news:

 

http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-panasonic-lx8-comes-with-same-1-inch-sensor-as-the-fz1000-specs-roundup/

 

A lot of it make sense. If it has 5-axis IS, the photo will benefit greatly. 5-axis IS on a 1" sensor for video might be questionably, but we will find out in a month!

[Interceptor121 842]

So it now says it won't be out before September however the Sony RX100 Mark III has full sensor read out and the just released Nauticam housing allows connection to a Ninja 2

The Mark III resolves more pixels in video than most full frame DSLR and only the GH3/4 beat it in terms of video frame resolution

Of course it has no 4K but I don't have a 4K Tv anyway and am a bit concerned that other than the 4K option Panasonic will just offer the 28 Mbit 60p option that really does not cut it

[dreifish 364]

One thing to consider for those waiting for the LX8 is that the FZ1000 has a pretty severe crop when it's in 4k mode in order to use the center 8m pixels on the 20m sensor. Assuming the LX8 does the same (and I don't see why it wouldn't, given that it'll likely be the same sensor), it'll mean a very narrow FOV for 4k video. Not great for underwater use.

 

If Panasonic combines that with a 25mm wide lens, it will also be harder to find good wet wide angle lenses for it.

 

And finally, the 5-axis in-body stabilization on fthe FZ1000, which the LX8 will likely mirror, isn't 5-axis in the Olympus sense--it's 3 axis O.I.S. combined with 2 axis electronic stabilization on-sensor. Which means more cropping -- if it works in 4k mode at all.

 

All in all, I suspect the LX8 might be a bit of a disappointment for underwater video use.

[Interceptor121 842]

I think olympus 5 axis is also optical and electronic right now am not that bothered about 4K I rather have the best 1080p. The new panasonic camera might fit that nicely at 24-90. When I had the lx7 I found the wetmate sufficient most times and I could still zoom to 28mm to attach the inon 100 degrees lens. 90mm at long end was fine for macro shots. One weakness was the stabiliser that was really ineffective at 24mm and was affected by the shutter trigger for video (twist at start end of recording). Caneras that have a simple button for movie on the back of the body respond better yo stabilisation

[kc_moses 142]

Adding another crop factor for 4K recording may not be a bad thing in the case of LX-8. For LX-7, we all struggle to find a good WA wet lens mainly because 24mm cause vignette, people still have to zoom in to 28 or 35mm to use certain wet lens anyway. I still have my Inon UFL-165AD, wonder if that works.

 

Intercepter121, you can get great 1080p from 4K footage, problem like moire would not be an issue (imagine being able to see the detail of the sea fan/grass). 4K also let you stabilize, crop, or have interesting composition. I can imagine just using a +5 diopter to shoot 4K, then during post, zoom in and make it look like a +10 diopter result when output to 1080p.

 

Still have no ideal when LX-8 will be announce, late August? September?

[Interceptor121 842]

4K will require upgrading of all my software. My videos are for my perusal I quite like the idea to take the best shots out of the camera and only to editing in terms of cut and paste of clips. I would prefer to even not bother with color correction and exposure and in fact in most cases I don't need to

Maybe panasonic comes with a GM2 and no more compacts?

[Interceptor121 842]

More news the new camera is going to be LX 1000 with 4K

If the crop is the same of the FZ1000 it will only be 37mm at 4K without any form of stabilisation. This will require an old school 0.5x lens to go down to 100 degrees and the lack of stabiliser in the close range seems not an option

However the hybrid OIS 24 Mbps to me is still attractive with the panasonic implementation of H264 so will look forward to some test files. At 24 Mbps it may be 28-105mm just the perfect range for my videos!!!